May 19, 2021 5:50 pm
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – As pressure mounts for the leader of Providence Public Schools to resign over his hiring of a school administrator accused of inappropriately touching students, a lawmaker has announced plans to submit legislation to reform oversight of the district.
Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin said she and her colleagues were “horrified” when hearing about the allegations against former Providence Schools Administrator Olayinka Alege, who was charged with simple assault and battery by the Warwick Police Department on April 20 after he gave a forced foot massage to a minor at a gym.
Before working in Providence, Alege worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa where similar incidents were reported.
The Senate passed a joint resolution (
2021-S 0015) introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) that would ask Rhode Island voters to amend the state constitution, allowing for a special election when vacancies occur in the offices of secretary of state, attorney general and general treasurer, as long as there is more than one year remaining in the term. For situations where there is less than one year left to a term, the General Assembly would elect a replacement in grand committee. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate passes bill establishing a public safety records management system
Providence Schools Superintendent Harrison Peters.
The Rhode Island Department of Education says that Commissioner Angélica Infante Green was “not aware” of now-former Providence schools official Olayinka Alege’s controversial past in Florida prior to his hiring in Rhode Island.
Alege who was arrested this week for “forcibly rubbing a stranger’s foot” and subsequently resigned was known in Florida for “toe-popping” students as a form of punishment.
Peters had faced serious criticism for his handling of a separate sex incident in Florida, as GoLocal reported.
Alege s Behavior
“Five boys told deputies that King High assistant principal Olayinka Alege asked them on numerous occasions to take off a shoe and sock behind closed doors, and allow him to pop their toes. They said it didn t hurt, but they didn t like it, either,” reported the Florida Sun-Sentinel in July 2009.
PROVIDENCE Former Senate Majority Leader John “Jack” Ravens is set to take a seat on the state Public Utilities Commission after winning confirmation Tuesday.
Despite the opposition of some senators who argue that Revens lacks the experience in energy and utilities issues that would qualify him for the $139,000-a-year position, his appointment was all but assured after he secured the support of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and other members of Senate leadership.
Indeed, it was two members of the leadership team Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey and Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin who spoke in support of Revens before the 29-to-9 vote in favor of his appointment to the commission that sets electric, gas and water rates in Rhode Island and implements state energy policies.